2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Master’s Degree Schools
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 66 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations & advertising students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations & advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Leading the list is Florida State University, our #1 best value for public relations & advertising in the United States. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $13,849 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $19,677. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $52,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at University Of North Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $18,523. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $48,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kean University earned it the #4 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $48,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for public relations & advertising. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $61,463 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,250. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $40,812 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Peters College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jersey City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $22,969 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Saint Peters College generally make around $50,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Peters College admits about 90% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #8 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,146. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for public relations & advertising. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $22,444. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $43,057. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Southeastern Louisiana University placed #10 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $24,323. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $42,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeastern Louisiana University admits about 99% of applicants.
Arizona State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,847 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $56,291 early in their careers. Set against $20,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Columbus State University came in at #12 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, while out-of-state students pay about $17,610. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $28,493 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $51,154. That is a strong return on a $28,493 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Middle Georgia State University placed #13 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,038, with out-of-state students paying around $16,390. Students borrow a median of $26,976 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $48,207. That is a strong return on a $26,976 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
University Of North Texas ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $21,817. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware landed the #15 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. In-state tuition and fees average $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Ball State University earned the #16 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $38,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
West Virginia University landed the #17 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $56,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University landed the #18 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $41,460. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego placed #19 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Suny College At Oswego generally make around $37,203. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Southern University placed #20 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $47,921. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Sacred Heart landed the #21 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of Santurce, University Of Sacred Heart is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410. Students borrow a median of $12,375 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Sacred Heart generally make around $32,818. That is a strong return on a $12,375 median debt. University Of Sacred Heart admits about 58% of applicants.
Harvard University earned the #22 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Troy University landed the #23 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,439. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $46,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Troy University admits about 96% of applicants.
Central Connecticut State University placed #24 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $35,444 early in their careers. Set against $22,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Connecticut State University admits about 73% of applicants.
Bellevue University came in at #25 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $61,588. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public relations & advertising value ranking:
Other Public Relations & Advertising Degree Levels
Explore the best-value public relations & advertising schools at other degree levels:
View All Public Relations & Advertising Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 66 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 66 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
